vox populi big thumbnail 'If they are truly sincere, they should have one event and have all Selangor parliamentary and state assembly members present. Put aside the political differences and reach out to the people genuinely.'

BN-Pakatan contest in high gear over CNY

Louis: Now Prime Minister Najib Razak can go celebrate Chinese New Year among the Chinese and Rosmah Mansor can cuddle a Chinese baby. The moon must have turned really blue. My goose pimples pop out like mushrooms each time I see their hypocrisy.

Abil: Najib should stop playing politics on festive occasions. Festivals are happy occasion to unite our diverse communities to celebrate the unity among races. It is very disheartening that the PM should indulge in politics and, thereby, destroying the spirit of unity.

Rayfire: Celebrations should be carried out by our politicians sincerely, not for the sake of "showing" how appreciative they are of other cultures. This trend was noticed even in the Thaipusam celebration. A big cut-out of Najib - a safety hazard and something we usually only see in Tamil movies - was set up to welcome Najib.

They tried to do the same in Klang. If they are truly sincere, they should have one event and have all Selangor parliamentary and state assembly members present. Put aside the political differences and reach out to people genuinely.

As for now, all these so called state-level celebration turn out to be just public relations exercise for the respective parties. What the police did in Batu Caves was also not proper. But then again, they just menurut perintah (follow orders)!

This nation will prosper only when leaders are genuine in their intentions to serve the nation!

Jiminy Qrikert: Only MCA members will attend the BN-Najib do and believe Umno will not yet again insult them with 'pendatang' (migrants) and 'pelacur' (prostitutes) , or worse, when it strikes their fancy.

The rest will behave like most honourable Chinamen who know a great deal when they smell one - they will just tuck into the great food, fill their belly and wave thank you and goodbye. Not many people would take kindly to having their ancestors insulted as 'pendatangs' and 'pelacur.'

RR: Rival political leaders meeting and feeding the people once a year on festive occasions is not the way. Instead, they must see that the needy and the poor do not remain poor and deprived of basic necessities in the country. There are thousands in this country who don't have two square meals a day.

The leaders of all parties must make sure that the economy develops and that the people of all races have their basic needs satisfied. People are no longer be hoodwinked with once-a-year-niceties held to catch votes.

Bumis not forgotten by Najib's new economic model: Mukhriz

Keturunan Malaysia: I beg your pardon Mukhriz Mahathir, by what yardstick do you claim that the NEP 'eradicated poverty'? By what yardstick do you claim 'equal opportunities' has been given?

The Atheist: ‘The economic problem we are facing was triggered by external factors like the global financial and economic crises.' I beg to differ, Mukhriz. The economic problems we are facing are caused by massive, brazen and unbridled corruption with the resultant fear by foreign investors to put their money here.

It is further compounded by the capital flight of our own politicians parking their ill-gotten gains in ‘safe' havens.

The current racist political climate also does not help. Just ask any ordinary Ahmad, Samy and Ah Chong. Don't think they are stupid.

AAR: Come on, all these comments condemning the Malays in general. You all want the Malays to be where they were 20 to 30 years ago - they had almost nothing in their motherland. NEP has gained the Malays a little bit of respect and pride. You all know very well that the non-Malays own a lot in Malaysia, they are billionaires, millionaires and countless hundred thousandaires, are those not enough?

The Malays support non-Malays businesses but I don't think vice-versa. The Malays are shunt by the private sector. Please don't be jealous of whatever little the government can give to help the Malays.

Dingy: Mukhriz, NEP benefited only Umnoputras, while the poor Malay remain poor. NEP also produced millionaires among the elite group of Malay. The worst effect of NEP is to make Malay lazy, get rich quick by setting up RM2 companies for million-dollar projects from the government. It doesn't help Malays to be independent and enterprising.

Akmal Ariffin: I wonder which NGOs alerted you (Mukhriz) to the problem. We, the ordinary Melayu Malaysians, have competed with the other races on our terms and have proved successful. Malays are ready for open tenders and stuff like that, just that your crony won't be getting his kickbacks from you, and they are going to be mighty angry. That is the real reason behind caring for the struggling bumis.

'PAS slams Australian MPs': Hadi clarifies

Wong Mun Kong: The national news agency Bernama has a very good track record these days of misinterpreting things especially if it's coming from the opposition. Whatever spin that Bernama comes up with is to be taken with a large pinch of salt. Just like Utusan Malaysia , Bernama has very little credibility these days.

Mano: Well, I am not sure if Bernama twisted the story or Abdul Hadi Awang was being truthful. This guy was/is dying to get on with Umno if he had half a chance.

Cala: I have been observing Abdul Hadi for quite a while. He comes across to me as a man without vision, mission, or principle. Have you heard him taking any stand for PAS/Pakatan Rakyat when it matters most?

Justice seeker: I thought that two days ago Pakatan MPs unanimously supported the action of the Australian MPs? Why has Abdul Hadi suddenly given a statement suggesting the opposite? I feel something is not well in the Pakatan coalition.

Disgusted: Abdul Hadi, who is covertly cavorting with Umno and is secretly desiring to cooperate with Umno for the sake of ‘religion and race', does not realise that no force within can make Umno change its ways. The pressure must come from outside. If people were to call a spade a spade, Umno doesn't like it and blame everyone else except themselves for the ensuing debacle.

One needs to step out of the country to know what the people in other countries think about our country. It is mostly negative. It used to be positive about three decades ago when, under Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the country was as being progressive, dynamic and peaceful country with racial and religious harmony.

This has been shattered by all the negative occurrences and reports in the foreign newspapers. Our government is like an ostrich which has its head buried in the ground and does not want to admit the condition of the situation.

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